Hole forming template for doors

ABSTRACT

A plug ( 30 ) on a edge plate ( 16 ) is set into a lock-plate recess ( 28 ) in a door ( 24 ). A pair of side plates ( 18, 20 ) are moved together from opposite sides of the door ( 14 ) until connector pins ( 34 ) on the edge plate ( 16 ) extend into connector pin openings ( 28 ) formed along common ends of the side plates ( 18, 20 ). Then, a clamp is used to clamp the two side plates ( 18, 20 ) to the door ( 24 ). A hole forming tool is then inserted through a gauge opening in one side plate ( 18, 20 ) and used to form a hole through the door ( 24 ) to a corresponding gauge opening in the second side plate ( 18, 20 ).

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to forming holes in doors for receiving lock sets. More particularly, it relates to the provision of a simple, easy-to-install, easy-to-use, template for properly positioning the tools used to make the holes with the door.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is known to use templates to aid proper positioning of lock set openings in doors. Known templates in the patent literature are disclosed by the following U.S. Pat. No. 1,611,930, granted Dec. 28, 1926, to Murdo C. MacLeod; U.S. Pat. No. 4,415,125, granted Dec. 29, 1987, to Lester R. Livick; U.S. Pat. No. 4,813,826, granted Mar. 21, 1989, to Raymond R. Riedel; U.S. Pat. No. 5,114,285, granted May 19, 1992, to Michael K. Brydon; U.S. Pat. No. 5,807,033, granted Sep. 15, 1998, to Randy E. Benway and U.S. Pat. No. 6,343,632, granted Feb. 5, 2002, to Varko Vivo Jinovic.

A disadvantage of the template disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 5,114,285 is that the two side plates of the template converge as they extend away from the edge plate. This enables the side plates to function as a clamp for clamping the template onto a door. A disadvantage of this construction is that there is a strong likelihood that the template will scar the door when it is installed onto and/or removed off from the door.

There is a need for a template that is simple in construction, easy to install and use, and adapted to not scar the door. The main object of the present invention is to fill this need.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The preferred embodiment of the invention comprises an edge plate that is positionable against an edge of a door, a first side plate that is positionable against a first side of the door, and a second side plate that is positionable against the second side of the door. A plurality of connector pins extend outwardly from the edges of the edge plate. The side plates have connector pin receiving openings positioned to receive the connector pins. When the connector pins are in the connector pin receiving openings, the side plates of the template can be positioned flat against the sides of the door and the edge plate can be positioned against the edge of the door. One or more clamps (e.g. C-clamps) can be used to clamp the side plates on the door. The connector pins and connector pin openings will secure the edge plate to the side plates. The side plates have guide openings in them adapted to receive hole forming tools and guide them as they drill into the door. The guide openings are suitably positioned for making lock set mounting openings at the proper locations in the door for the particular lock set that is being installed on the door.

Other objects, advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the description of the best mode set forth below, from the drawings, from the claims and from the principles that are embodied in the specific structures that are illustrated and described.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

Like reference numerals are used to designate like parts throughout the several views of the drawing, and:

FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of a fragment of a door in a region where a lock set is to be installed, such view showing a template spaced from the lock region of the door;

FIG. 2 is a pictorial view on a larger scale than FIG. 1, showing the template installed at the lock receiving region of the door;

FIG. 3 is an exploded pictorial view of the template, showing an edge plate between two side plates, and showing the alignment of connector pins on the edge plate with connector pin receiving openings in the side plates;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 4-4 of FIG. 2, with the door omitted, said view showing a slight divergent of the side plates as they extend away from the edge plate;

FIG. 5 is a view like FIG. 4, but showing the side plates substantially parallel to each other;

FIG. 6 is a view like FIGS. 4 and 5, but showing the side plates converging slightly as they extend away from the edge plate; and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of two of the pin and pin opening connections.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment 10 of the lock set template of the present invention in a spaced relationship from the lock set region 12 of a door 14. As best shown by FIG. 3, the template 10 comprises an edge plate 16, a first side plate 18 and a second side plate 20. The door 14 has a first side 22, a second side 24 and an edge 26 that extend between the sides 22, 24. The edge 22 is shown to include a lock plate recess 28, also referred to as a “mortis”.

Referring to FIG. 3, the side plates 18, 20 may be of identical construction and may be about six inches wide and nine and one-quarter inches high, and may be about three-eighths of an inch thick. The edge surfaces and end surfaces are preferably substantially square with the side surfaces. Along one edge, the side plates 18, 20 are formed to include a plurality of connector pin receiving openings 28. These openings may measure about one-quarter of an inch in diameter.

The edge plate 16 is rectangular in shape and has end and edge surfaces that are substantially square with the side surfaces. The side surfaces of side plate 18 are substantially parallel. The side surfaces of side plate 20 are substantially parallel. The side surfaces of edge plate 16 are substantially parallel. However, a plug 30 is secured to the inside of edge plate 16, such as by a pair of screws 32, for example. The screws 32 removably connect the plug 30 to the edge plate 16. Plug 30 is constructed to snuggly fit within the lock plate recess 28 for the particular lock set that is being installed onto the door. Edge plate 16 is provided with a plurality of connector pins 34, equal in number to the connector pin openings 28. As will be hereinafter described in more detail, the connector pins 34 are sized to make a clearance fit with the openings 28. The spacing of the connector pins 34, in each wall of connector pins 34 varies and the spacing of the corresponding connector pin openings 28 varies in the same manner. This allows each side plate 18, 20 to be connected to the edge plate 16 only when a particular end of the side plates 18, 20 is directed upwardly and the opposite end is directed downwardly. Referring to FIG. 3, the upper two connector pins 34 on each side edge of the edge plate 16 are spaced apart the same distance as the upper two connector pin openings 28. The bottom three connector pins 34 on each edge of the edge plate 16 are spaced apart a distance equal to the spacing of the bottom three connector pin openings 28. When the connector pins 34 are in the connector pin openings 28, and the side plates 18, 20 are connected to the edge plate 16, the gauge openings 50 in side plate 18 are in alignment with the gauge openings 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50 in the side plate 20.

The template is installed by setting the plug 30 into the lock plate recess 28. Either before or after the side plates 18, 20 are connected to the edge plates 16 by use of the connector pins 34 in the connector pin openings 28. For example, the edge plate 16 may be installed by itself, with the plug 30 extending into the recess 38. Then, side plate 18 may be installed on its side of the edge plate 16 and side plate 20 may be installed on its side of the edge plate 16. As shown by FIG. 7, the connector pins 34 makes a clearance fit with the connector pin openings 28. As a result, the side plates 18, 20 can be placed flat against the side surfaces 22, 24 of the door 14. If the surfaces are uneven and/or are not parallel, there will be movement at the connections 28, 32 so that the side plates 18, 20 remain in tight contact with the door surfaces of 22, 24 while the connections 28, 34 remain secure. FIG. 4 shows a slight divergence of the side plates 18, 20 with respect to the edge plate 16. FIG. 5 shows the side plates 18, 20 substantially parallel to each other. FIG. 6 shows a slight convergence of the side plates 18, 20 relative to the edge plate 16. This construction of the template 10 allows a quick placement of the edge plate 16 against the edge 26 of the door 14, followed by a quick placement of the side plates 18, 20 against the sides 22, 24 of the door 14, with the connector pins 34 within the connector pins 34 within the connector pin openings 28. Then, a C-clamp can be installed for the purpose of pressing the side plates 18, 20 against the side surfaces 22, 24 of the door 14. When the template 10 is secured to the door 14 in this manner, the two sets of gauge openings 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50 are in alignment with each other. The person who is installing the lock need only insert the free end of the hole forming tool (e.g. drill bit) in a selected gauge hole and then use the tool to drill through the door from the starting gauge hole in one side plate to the corresponding gauge hole in the opposite side plate. For example, the workman may put a drill bit in a power drill and insert the end of the drill in gauge opening 48 in side plate 18 and then drill through the door until the drill bit passes through the gauge opening 48 in side plate 20. The number of holes that are drilled, and the sizes of the holes, are determined by the particular lock set that is being installed on the door 14. After the holes are formed, the clamp is removed, the side plates 18, 20 are moved away from edge plate 16 and edge plate 16 is moved away from the door edge 26.

The template 10 may be provided with a plurality of different sizes of plug 30, one for each type of lock set that exists to be installed.

The illustrated embodiment is only an example of the present invention and, therefore, is non-limitive. It is to be understood that many changes in the particular structure, materials and features of the invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, it is my intention that my patent rights not be limited by the particular embodiment that is illustrated and described herein but is to be determined by the following claims, construed by use of the established rules of patent claim construction. 

1. A lock template for a door having first and second sides, an edge between the first and second sides, and a lock-plate recess in the edge of the door, said template comprising: an edge plate that is substantially equal in width to the door, said edge plate having an inside, an outside, first and second side edges and a plug on said inside that is sized and shaped to fit within the lock plate recess in the edge of the door; a first side plate positionable against the first side of the door and the first edge of the edge plate; a second side plate positionable against the second side of the door and the second edge of the edge plate; a plurality of connector pins extending outwardly from the edges of the edge plate; said side plates having connector pin receiving openings positioned to receive the connector pins that project outwardly from the side edges of the edge plate; and said side plates having guide openings in them adapted to receive hole forming tools and guide them as they make lock set mounting holes in the door.
 2. The lock template of claim 1, comprising at least three spaced apart connector pins on each side edge of the edge plate and corresponding pin receiving openings in the side plates.
 3. The lock template of claim 2, wherein the spacing of the connector pins and the connector pin receiving openings will only allow the side plates to be connected to the edge plate in one way so that the guide openings in the side plates will always correctly correspond to the lock components that need to be in registry with such openings.
 4. The lock template of claim 1, wherein the plug is removably secured to the edge plate.
 5. The lock template of claim 1, wherein the edge plate and the first and second side plates are constructed from aluminum.
 6. The lock template of claim 1, wherein the connector pins make a loose fit in the connector pin openings so that the side plates can be moved the sides of the door while the side plates are connected to the edge plate.
 7. The lock template of claim 6, comprising at least three spaced apart connector pins on each side edge of the edge plate and corresponding pin receiving openings in the side plates.
 8. The lock template of claim 7, wherein the spacing of the connector pins and the connector pin receiving openings will only allow the side plates to be connected to the edge plate in one way so that the guide openings in the side plates will always correctly correspond to the lock components that need to be in registry with such openings.
 9. The lock template of claim 6, wherein the plug is removably secured to the edge plate.
 10. The lock template of claim 6, wherein the edge plate and the first second side plates are constructed from aluminum. 